Starting device



May 1, 1923.

R. c. FROHOCK STARTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1922 a wvewio z PatentedMay 1, 1923'.

UNITED STATES RODNEY C. FROHOCK, 0F AUGUSTA, MAINE.

STARTING- DEVICE.

Application filed March 8, 1922. Serial No. 542,179.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, RODNEY C. FROHOOK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county ofKennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Starting Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in starting devices forinternal combustion engines and has relation more particularly to adevice of this general character especially designed and adapted for usein connection with motor driven fire apparatus, and it is primarily anobject of the invention to provide a novel and improved means of thisgeneral character which auto matically operates upon the sounding of analarm.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved startingdevice whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view partly in elevation and partly insection illustrating a starting device constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sec tional view illustrating theelectrically operated lock; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating in detail the coupling meanscomprised in the device as herein set forth.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, V denotes a motor drivenvehicle and which is provided with a movable member 1 such as a leverwhich, upon movement in one direction, serves to close the ignition andstarter switch for the starting of the motor (not shown).

Secured to the movable member or lever 1 is an end portion of a flexiblemember 2 which extends within the hood of the vehicle through the dashand which passes over a suitably supported guide member or rol er 3. Theflexible member 2 extends downwardly from the guide member or roller 3and has its lower or free extremity provided with an annular member orloop 4, preferably of a rigid type.

When the vehicle V is at its station, the same is disposed over a member5 hinged, as at 6, to the under surface of the floor F upon which thevehicle V rests. The member 5 is provided with a spring-pressed latch 7which engages within the keeper 8 also secured to the under surface ofthe floor F. The coaction between the latch 7 and the keeper 8 servesnormally to maintain the member 5 in its raised position.

Arranged within the keeper 8. is a winding 9 with which is associated asolenoid 10. The winding 9 is interposed within the operating circuit 11for the alarm A, herein disclosed as a bell. When the alarm A issounded, the winding 9 will be energized to impose outward movement tothe solenoid 10, said movement of the solenoid effecting a release ofthe latch 7 from the keeper 8 so that the member 5 will drop. Tofacilitate the dropping of the member 5 and to provide the desiredweight, for the purpose to be hereinafter referred to, a ball 12 orother weighted member is suspended from the member 5.

Secured, as at 14, to the member 5 is a flexible member 15 which extendsupwardly through an opening 16 in the floor F. The upper or free endportion of the member 15 is secured to a tension spring clamp 17 whichengages the loop or member 4;, hereinbefore referred to, when thevehicle V is at its station. When the member 5 drops, sulficient pullwill be imposed upon the movable member or switch lever 1 to close theigni tion and starter switch for the motor, thus permitting the warmingup of the motor without an instant delay upon the sounding of the alarm.As the car moves, the tension clamp 17 will readily disengage from theloop or member 1.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that astarting device constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodlficatlon without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for Fi l? reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfto the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts hereinshown in carrying out my invention in'pr actice except as hereinafterclaimed.

I claim:

In combination with a movable member for closing the operating circuitof a starter of an engine and an alarm circuit, amember supported forswinging movement, a weighted member carried by the swinging member, aflexible member engaged with the movable member, the second flexiblemember engaged with the swinging member, a tension clamp carried by thesecond flexible member and engageable with the first named flexiblemember, means for holding the swingin'gmemb'er in one position andagainst movement under the influence of the weighted membercarriedthereby, means operatively engaged with the alarm circuit forreleasing said holding means upon sounding of the alarm to permit theweighted member to drop, the dropping of the weighted member imposingsufficient pull upon the first named flexible member to move in closedposition the member for closing the operating circuit of the starter,the tensioning clam disengaging thefirst named flexible mem er upon pullbeing imposed upon the first named flexible member in addition to thepull created by the weighted member. In testimony whereofl aflin mysignature.

RODNEY C. FROHOCK.

